To infinity- and beyond! (W9R3 ha ha ha!)

[AvatheGardener]

Morning everyone!

I just had one of those runs where your mind is asking questions and grumbling a lot of the time- along the lines of owch! what are you doing and why are you doing this?! It was rush hour in Wandsworth, nothing notable or wondrous about today's weather or views...

Then for some really amazing reason- answers please!- that last minute which is normally everlastingly heavy (despite the fact that I often run on after Laura says 'that's it')- well, that last minute flew by. Or to put it more accurately, I seemed to fly!- I had managed to get past the hill, the lumps, bumps, corners and road crossings, and was looking along a long, straight, flat pavement- no beautiful view- and somehow it felt as if my feet were landing on softest marshmallow yet somehow this supported and bounced me back. It was as if I was powering through the air, as if every bone and muscle in my body was helping me along and felt absolutely fine with what was happening- my mind was smiling and when Laura said 'that's it!'- it felt as if I'd only run 20 secs of that last minute of the last run of week 9... a big smile glowed out of me (well, glowing... that's just the beetroot heat of course!)

Yes- it's true! I have completed the C25K magic programme!!!!!!!!!!!! (9 smiles for 9 weeks!) 23 July- 16 September, in three countries.... wow. Thank you for all your support through the programme- it feels amazing...

a very very happy rainshine (graduate ) xxx

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Congratulations rainshine! of course it felt good - you should be very proud of yourself! Now to plan all sorts of lovely ne w running adventures! Go get your shiny badge!

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Yay! Thank you Ully! I can remember looking at all you folks with a 'graduate' next to your names... and never dare to think I would make it that far.... and yes I am starting to think about running adventures, despite the 'I can't do this!' to 'wow! this is amazing!' ratio of time whilst running being approximately 20:1... but the feeling afterwards is definitely worth it!

[gary_bart]

Well done. What a lovely ending. It's all very well (and good) to run for the opportunity to be stubborn and gritty, but the best is when you just run on all cylinders and feel great. I think it's something we used to do more often (albeit in very short bursts) as kids. Somewhere in the PE classes between that and here, we learned that exercise was all pennance. A lie. Anyway, now you've had enough opportunities to experience in your own flesh and bones that along with the nice struggles and grunting there can also be little bonuses of sheer joy. Could get addictive, all those good reasons to go running.

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to gary_bart]

thanks gary_bart. I always enjoy reading your posts and advice. You do articulate the emotional side of running so well! It was simply splendid to finish the C25K programme with that amazing feeling of someone having turned the gravity down and aligned all the forces of good- stunning! Here's to the next run, if I can get that again!

I really hope you heal soon.

[JennieHolden]

Amazing well done and a big smile frome me to you

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to JennieHolden]

thank you for that sunshiney smile Jennie- and for the congrats- it feels great

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

Fantastic, I am just behind you, final run on Saturday 😀! How do you feel about running independently? I am looking forward to the freedom but it is a little daunting as it has been structured motivation. I plan to do parkrun on Saturdays plus 2 x 30 minute runs each week for a month. Might then think about increasing my distance a little and doing some trail running (locally in the woods and fields not the Canadian mountains)! fantastic, well done for an amazing commitment to being healthy, all the best and hope you keep posting. Julie

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to JoolieB1]

Go Joolie I am with you all the way- you will scorch the parkrun and absolutely love it. Be sure to put C25K as your club!

As for the next stage, I'm thinking of sticking with week9 for a week (probably going to parkrun on Saturday though) and then I'm going to have a go at the C25K+ podcasts building strength stamina and speed... fitting it in is going to get increasingly difficult with work commitments, elderly dogs, daylight issues etc but I'm determined to plan each run as much as possible- usually a day or two beforehand but sometimes just as it comes (life is flexible and random for me).

And yes I also want to get back to off roading (not the Canadian mountains either!), need to refocus on new trail shoes next. There's a massive hill near me which other people can run and cycle up - it's a bit of a challenge really- I have always been in awe of them it's hard to even walk up...

Thank you so much for the congrats!!!... coming your way in just a few days

[JoolieB1 Graduate in reply to AvatheGardener]

I just bought trail shoes from Sports Direct for thirty pounds, they seem nice n sturdy and I think great value for money. Where you visiting near me? 😀

[AdamB Graduate]

Congratulations!!! You are a runner. You know you are a runner. Be proud.

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to AdamB]

YAY thanks AdamB- you know what- I am

[Vixchile Graduate]

Many congratulations!!

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to Vixchile]

thanks Vixchile- very kind of you- what a great feeling!

[jamsammich Graduate]

Oh well done Mrs! 🎉🎉🎊🎊🎉

Fabulously done 😀

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to jamsammich]

thanks jamsammich lovely- I'm so happy to have made it and so touched that you have taken an interest and encouraged me

might have Thurs and Fri off and just parkrun again on Saturday...

[Hidden in reply to AvatheGardener]

Fantastic ! Many congratulations. Its a good idea to have the 2 days off and go to parkrun with really fresh legs. Hope you enjoy it. I am an addict ....

[laurav33 Graduate]

HURRAH! Well done you!!! I graduated this morning too, sooooo excited!

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to laurav33]

Isn't it a great feeling well done you- from here on we have a tool to play with- the ability to run!

[LyndaM Graduate]

Well done Rainshine and many congratulations on your graduation. Your run sounds a lot like mine was - I felt so elated and proud and wanted to "lock in" the experience into my body and mind so I would always remember it. It's great when you get that flying along feeling. I am well chuffed for you today - enjoy!

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to LyndaM]

Thanks Lynda- how lovely that you're chuffed for me - I'm genuinely touched - I love you expression of 'locking in' the experience, I will try and use that. The flying feeling was amazing- I want more of that- it was a total wow for me. YAY!

[Hidden]

Go Go Rainshine! Go Go!! Well done you missus! Go get that graduate badge and wear it with pride!

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to Hidden]

YAY mims thank you so much... this is where it really starts I feel that C25K has given me a tool to be able to work with now... it's weird but I suspect I can already see some improvements in body shape and fitness levels.... here's to Saturday parkrun (all things being equal!)

[rich_wolves Graduate]

well done

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to rich_wolves]

thanks rich_wolves- it's a great feeling isn't it!

[mfamilias Graduate]

Yessssss! Pompoms pulled out of cupboard, box of tissues and nasal spray thrown to the floor, and mFam is doing the onesie pompom dance for her favourite rainbow runner!

Congratulations for the superb achievement

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

wayhay! thank you so much mfam! I'm properly more chuffed at you doing the onesie pompom dance for me than actually doing the final W9R3 run

hope you're feeling better sooonnest !X

[mfamilias Graduate in reply to AvatheGardener]

Aw, that's sweet, thank you. You're a cupcake with extra sparkles on top xx

[poppypug Graduate]

Brilliant !

Many Congratulations to you Rainshine, you Superstar ! xxx

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to poppypug]

awww poppypug *blushes*- thank you thank you thank you!!!! It's possible I'm a little bit excited and rather awed joining all you fabulous graduates

YAY! xxx

[Hidden]

YAY BIG well done to you it feels pretty dam good doesn't it enjoy the celebrations you deserve them

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Slow_Rob! It really does feel fantastic! I'm so thrilled at actually looking back and making myself see that I have learnt to run for 30 mins (+)- and have done 5K along the way! Thanks again

[Dunnja Graduate]

Congratulations Rainshine.

I can remember when you first started to post, my how the time flies.

How lovely are runs like that. That's when I suddenly feel free and like I can conquer the world!!!!

Hope you are celebrating in style.

HUGE well done to you

Jules xxx

[Diane57 Graduate]

Well done👏👏😀

[AncientMum Graduate]

Yay Rainshine, many many congratulations 🎉🎈🎉 Here is a trumpet fanfare to herald your triumph 🎺🎺 and a little reminder that you're now officially top banana for the day 🍌

[AbracaDeborah Graduate]

Well done Graduate Rainshine, all your hard work was worth it! Looking forward to my 'flying moment' - hopefully next week enjoy the feeling

[Noaky12 Graduate]

What a fantastic graduation post that is!

Great job. Well done Graduate! X ☺

[ndgould Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation. What a lovely way to end the course. Very well done and a nice shiny badge too!

[aliboo70]

Congratulations rainshine😊thats brilliant , well done and love the post ,just sums it all up!

[RunningForBroke Graduate]

Huge congratulations!!!!!! Who would have thought it when you started eh? But you stuck to it and made it through. Way to go you!!!!

[Anaverageman Graduate]

I dunno , turn your back for a second and people have graduated!

well done though.. nice shiny new badge!

[Eastofthegate Graduate]

Well done! I'm so glad that you finished on a high.

I'm also just behind you ( graduation is set for Saturday), and last night experienced my first ' good run'. I'm hoping something similar happens on Saturday!